There is also a North West XPT Train service (TrainLink) which travels from Sydney to Newcastle. Port Stephens Coaches travel from Newcastle to Nelson Bay.

Population

Nelson Bay is home to 14,000 people, the median age of residents is 50 years. The smaller town of Shoal Bay is home to nearly 2,000 people, the median age of residents is 58 years. While Salamander Bay is home to nearly 5,000 people, the median age of residents is 52 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up nearly 3% of the population of all three towns.

Healthcare facilities

Nelson Bay – Tomaree Community Hospital is a small regional public hospital with an emergency department. The closest major hospital is John Hunter Hospital, a 55 min drive from Nelson Bay. It is the major tertiary referral, teaching hospital and referral centre for the Hunter New England Local Health District. Services provided at John Hunter Hospital, include primary and tertiary trauma services, a retrieval service for critically ill, maternity and gynaecology services, medical and interventional services, surgical services, and critical care. Allied health services provided include social work, physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, speech pathology and pharmacy.

Calvery Mater Hospital is 50 min drive from Nelson Bay and is a large metropolitan hospital with an emergency department. The hospital has a wide range of district hospital activities including general medical and surgical care, cancer services, general and internal medicine, surgery, palliative care, melanoma unit, breast screening, support workers, pastoral care.

There is an Ambulance Service of NSW station at Nelson Bay.

Accredited GP practices

Bay Doctors and Skin Cancer Clinic

Nelson Plaza Clinic

Providence Medical Shoal Bay

Doctor accommodation

There may be accommodation available for registrars training in Nelson Bay, please contact your Rural Support Officer for details.

Education

Within the Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay and Salamander Bay area there are four public and two private primary schools, one public and one private secondary school and one tertiary education college.

Childcare

For young families the Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay and Salamander Bay area offers a wide range of options suitable for children from six weeks to school age, for occasional care, long day care, family day care and pre-school.

Shopping

Nelson Bay has a good range of shopping, including Coles, Aldi and Woolworths supermarkets, and national retailers including Kmart, Lowes and Target. There are also boutique stores, bakeries, newsagencies, cafes and restaurants.

Sporting activities

Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay and Salamander Bay is home to many sporting clubs including rugby, netball, surfing, swimming, athletics, oztag, golf, touch football, AFL and cricket. Contact details for many clubs can be can be found at Port Stephens Council.

Further information

While the Australian Government Department of Health has contributed to the funding of this website, the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government and is not advice that is provided, or information that is endorsed by the Australian Government. The Australian Government is not responsible in negligence or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.